Plenty of area fall sports proved to be eye-openers in 2006. One of those setting the table for what proved to be a local school year to remember was cross country.

The boys and girls distance-running teams from New London were followed to the state meet in Columbus by a big fan base, doubling the area constituency that advanced to the final Saturday in 2005. Three other individuals also advanced to state, after the area was represented by 47 different runners in various regionals.

The gut-check this year will be attempting to duplicate that type of overall dominance. Dominant four-year forces such as Ashland's Nate Carter and Molly Elderbrock, Crestview's Troy McCarron and Amber Webb, New London's Troy Coombs and Danielle and Gabrielle Wuensch, and Loudonville's Mike Aten all now are graduates who helped create recent local distance-running memories.

Of the 16 total runners who either were Runner of the Year or on the Times-Gazette's first-team lists last year, seven return. So the challenge for 2007 will be to build on some big history with some new faces.

ASHLAND BOYS

Arrows hope to replace holes with success

Gone from Tim Black's roster are two of the area's Top 6 times of a season ago, and fading are the memories of the 2005 Ashland team that qualified for the regional. The Arrow boys coach, however, is hoping the hunger with this year's team gets the Orange and Black right back into a rendezvous with those same regionals.

Ashland will be without graduated 2006 team leaders Nate Carter (a four-year letter winner) and Brock Weaver (last year's Galion Division I District champion), but it will begin its fall with three key letter-winning seniors for the second straight season.

"Our team is about the same size as it was last year, but this year, I see our veterans providing some solid leadership, both on and off the course," Black said. "Last year we knew we had the guys up front. This year I think we're going to be a more well-rounded team. We'll be able to pack-run better and bring that differential time from the first runner to the last one a lot closer together."

Leading an offseason dedication that has provided a big bump in summer miles is the 12th-grade trio of Dan Ditlevson, Zach Freer and Seth Hogue. That group starts a trend that has exactly three runners from every AHS class competing for low times, as Hogue represents last fall's best junior average and junior Kelsey Snively -- the team's lone two-year letter winner -- was the top sophomore runner.

Letterman Jarrod Heydinger also will be joined by football transplant Billy Orth as the team's other pair of juniors, while underclassmen Sean Brean, Jeremiah Schloemer and Josh Sowl are the team's sophomores, and Kale Bandy, Brett Betit and Kyle Rhodes enter their rookie high school campaigns.

"Pretty much all of our guys put in some increased mileage over the summer," Black said, "so this is a group that should be able to do very well as a team."

ASHLAND GIRLS

AHS has plenty to bank on with solid returners

The Arrows trot into the fall of 2007 absent a pair of graduated runners who will be taking to collegiate courses this year. But with nine returning letter winners -- three of whom were all-Ohio Cardinal Conference a season ago -- along with five of their former top seven, Ashland certainly shouldn't be anywhere near an off-year.

"Our top five returning letter winners do have the OCC championship under their belts and bring that experience to the table, but it certainly is going to take a lot of sweat equity to repeat," coach Deb Gallagher said. "The girls can not just go through the motions, they have got to continue to put forth the effort and stay healthy and focused along the way."

Leading that focus will be OCC first-teamer and two-year letter winner Paula Smetana. The regional-qualifying senior's 20:00 time a year ago ranks 17th in the school's best 31 clockings, and Gallagher said she already is in a great position following her summer training.

Alongside Smetana will be senior lettermen Emma Bardy, Jenni Long and Tayler Markel. Bardy, with two varsity letters, has shown the crucial ability to close the gaps between time differentials in the group while the hard-working Long (second-team OCC) could be Smetana's push up front.

Markel, meanwhile, will be another key team placer a season after she battled through some health issues, and junior letterman Brittany Duewel (third-team OCC) has showed running chops that have helped her perform her best at the most critical times.

Additional letter winners Gallagher will push to drive the team pace will be seniors Erin Saner and Molly Owens (two letters) and juniors Betsy Elderbrock and Molly Rutledge.

"The team's goals are to win the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship," Gallagher said. "Our team is the only team that graduated two from their top seven returnees so we really have the pressure on to work hard and compete determined."

BLACK RIVER

Pirates will have

balancing act

The differences will be very visual when the Black River boys and girls teams tread the course this fall. The male roster is built on a base of 19 runners for coach Eric Yetter, while the girls will feature just five competitors -- all first-year high school runners.

The Pirate boys move from a season of expected development to what Yetter hopes is a breakthrough fall. The team, which placed 13th at regionals in Tiffin last year, will be paced by three-time letter-winning seniors Robert Altenburger, Brian Bush (eighth-best area time in 17:31 last year) and Jim Randolph, with Altenburger and Bush both bringing back regional-qualifying talent.

Also helping pile up the potential, among others, will be sophomore letterman David Kindall, and freshmen Jay Lucas, Matt Lovelady and Matt Ross. Lucas was the first-place finisher in last year's middle school Patriot Athletic Conference Championships, while both Lovelady and Ross finished in its Top 5.

"This year's squad has high expectations," said Yetter, who will be helped in coaching by former Cedarville University runner Adam Laskos. "Bringing back four of our top seven from a successful 2006 campaign gives us a strong base. Adding an exciting mix of returning runners, a few new faces, and some talented freshmen gives us a sense of opportunity. Our goals for the 2007 season are soundly focused on the conference, district and regional meets."

Black River's girls are a bit of a different story. Two years removed from claiming a state qualifier, and a few months after graduating Nicole Platz (10th-best area time with 21:10 in 2006), the Lady Pirates will be building with youth. What will make that construction even more difficult for Yetter is the fact Jamie Bush, a standout freshman last fall with the area's ninth-best time (20:56), is running elsewhere as a sophomore.

Yetter welcomes to the high school course this fall sophomores Stacee Wright and Samantha Homoki, and freshmen Alyssa Brown, Julia Wade and Amanda Klienhienz.

"Obviously, we are a young team this year," Yetter said. "Brown and Wade are coming off of a successful track season, and Homoki returns after a year off. Our team goals will develop as the season progresses. At this point, we want to compete as a varsity team and maybe add to our numbers as we start the school year."

CRESTVIEW

Cougs hope to emerge from unseat FC foes

Success in cross country never has been a problem for Forrest Pruner and his Crestview runners. But, despite a recent three-year run atop the Firelands Conference for the boys, and a girls' team that has been to regionals two years and counting, the Cougars feel they have plenty to prove after watching New London sweep the FC last fall.

The boys, built on all seniors and sophomores this year, will be without the long-time trusty clockings of graduated state qualifier Troy McCarron. But, after finishing as a district runner-up last season, they will be able to rely on letter-winning senior Grant Linkenbach and sophomore lettermen Cody Mabry and Jed Sauder to help set the pace. Mabry and Linkenbach both were T-G honorable mention runners following last season.

Those three will be joined by senior Kiplan Reeves and sophomores Jason Cooper, Trevor Stone and Nick Williams.

"We have a young team, but they do show promise," Pruner said. "Having only seven runners makes staying healthy a high priority.

"(They have) a tradition to uphold, that of qualifying to the regional meet as a team seven straight times and having at least one individual qualifier the last five years. We hope to regain (the FC title)."

Pruner's girls double the boys in letter-winning returners with six, coming back a year after finishing second in the FC and hoping to leap-frog New London this year.

Absent state-qualifying Amber Webb, Crestview will have key varsity experience returning with seniors Alison Miller and Lora Napier, and juniors Emma McCarron, Heather Young, Nicole Ruckman and Lauren Durbin. Miller, Napier, McCarron, Young and Ruckman all were part of the team times that pushed the Cougars to third place in their 2006 district. McCarron's 20:37 last year was eighth-best in the area.

"(We have) six lettermen that have been a part of the team that has qualified to the regional meet the last two years," Pruner said. "Our main concern is to stay healthy. The ladies are working very hard."

Also competing for Crestview are senior Jee-Min Taylor and freshman Autumn Harmen.

HILLSDALE

Young Falcons have plenty of experience

Of the 10 varsity runners competing on the boys and girls teams at Hillsdale this fall, eight are returning letter winners. Looking at that balance, coach Steve Burns likes the consistency his teams could present this fall.

For the boys, a glaring loss is graduated Andy House, who was a captain, four-year letterman and the team's lone runner to finish under 20 minutes last season. But the squad welcomes back returning starters in senior Ryan Freelon, two-year junior letterman Parker Selby, junior Brian Young and sophomore Jeff Stimmell. Also competing will be junior first-time distance runners Tyler Strait and Garret Brundige.

"Positions 1 through 6 are wide open and all six runners are capable of filling the No. 1 spot," Burns said. "The keen competition is making all the runners better.

"Our big push will be to drop our personal-best times from last year. Individually, all six runners are shooting for regional-qualifying times."

The Falcon girls bring back a quartet full of experience, and would have five letter winners if junior Niki Rumker were not injured. Without her, the concentration is finding a fifth runner and improving times.

Two-time letterman and junior Kaitlin Wagner was last year's captain and Most Valuable Runner while sophomore Bethany Young was the team's Most Improved Runner. Additional runners will be junior Lacey Shotwell and sophomore Sheyanna Paullin.

"(The team has a) positive attitude and willingness to work hard and achieve our goals, (along with) a year's worth of experience," Burns said. "Also, the spirited competition among team members is making for everyday improvement."

Burns, who is entering his 23rd year as the program's coach, said the team is set on steady improvement that will lead to what it hopes to be a spot in the regional meet.

LOUDONVILLE

Talent, questions

fill Redbird rosters

Both the boys and girls teams at Loudonville graduated their No. 1 runners of a fall ago, and with the boys looking to still have a shot at continuing some impressive recent success, the new-look girls team will battle itself to improve.

For the boys and coach Don Baun, the goal won't only be to advance to the team's fifth straight regional run, but to make it one week further fueled by a powerful five-senior front.

With T-G first-team runner Ben Mathie, second-teamer Kyle Lemke and honorable mention man Jack Koppert all returning, the base is set for consistent solidity. All three are seniors in pursuit of their fourth varsity letters, and Mathie was the area's ninth-best man a year ago. Baun also said Lemke seems to be threatening the No. 1 spot as well after putting in some serious summer miles.

From there, the team, which was second in the Mid-Buckeye Conference last fall, will be leaning on multiple varsity letter-winning seniors Tom Koppert and Domanic Martin, as well as junior Doug Wilson, sophomores Jace Wolford and Jon Mullinnex, and freshmen Bryan Derr, Cooper Charlton and Tony Mullinnex. Derr set a new record while running at Perrysville Junior High School last year.

"Some of these boys (were) on the district championship team of 2004," Baun said. "They want to make it to the big dance at state. The team is strong, fast and determined this year."

The girls will be a bit of a different story, entering the fall with far less lettering experience and no new runners, but plenty to build with in terms of skill.

Senior Jenna Lance will be in pursuit of her fourth letter after an injury-riddled junior year, while classmate Margie Stone also will run for the squad. Baun said sophomore Haley Young looks to be in line for the No. 1 spot one fall after earning honorable mention T-G status.

"The team did not fair well in 2006 with injuries and a lack of speed," Baun admitted. "They should do better in the MBC (fifth last year), maybe third or fourth. Overall, the team can and should improve."

MAPLETON

Numbers down, but hopes high for Mounties

After graduating all three of her team captains -- athletes who combined for 12 varsity letters -- Mapleton coach Tiffany Myers hopes to help build the talents of a three-girl, two-boy group this season.

"This group may be small, but they have good chemistry and team unity," Myers said. "Everyone is positive and helps pick up the runners who may be having an off-day."

The girls have the edge in experience, returning two-time letter winner Alyssa Christian for her senior year, as well as sophomore letterman Janice Taylor. That pair, hoping to compete as well as T-G second-teamer Katherine Shopbell did for four years, is joined by first-year high school trotter Alli Guerrero, a sophomore.

The Mountie boys will be represented by senior Kevin Jacque, a first-year distance runner, and freshman Adam Johnson, a young talent who put together a third-place time at the Firelands Conference junior high school meet in 2006.

For the first time since 2002, Mapleton is without the skills of Gavin Gott and Justin Taylor. Gott was honorable mention on the all-area team and both were co-captains during their senior years last fall.

"I need for everyone to stay healthy," she said. "I don't have enough depth this year to fall back on some of the younger runners. I'm looking for continual improvement throughout the season and to build up a solid core of runners to return next year, (and) to have at least one individual regional qualifier."

NEW LONDON

'Cats hoping for encore following huge fall

The shadows don't get any bigger than the ones the boys and girls runners from New London will be trying to escape this fall.

Both squads exploded with talent that led them to simultaneous state meet appearances and Firelands Conference titles, with the girls placing seventh and the boys finishing ninth in Division III in Columbus.

The Wildcat boys, who broke Crestview's three-year reign at the top of the FC, lost three of their seven state competitors from last fall to graduation, including the area's second-best time talent, Troy Coombs. What the team has coming back, however, could again be frightening.

Hoping to shove the Wildcats into their unprecedented 21st straight regional meet as a team will be senior three-year lettermen Kyle Anderson (fourth-best area time last year with 16:48; 77th at state) and Brandon Lang (seventh-best area time with 17:13; 93rd at state).

"I hope that the guys that we have returning from last year, and the guys that will have to step it up to replace the athletes that we have lost, are up to the challenge of defending our Firelands Conference championship," said boys coach Geoff Geist, who has a 19-runner roster. "Our team has currently set the goal to be one of the top five teams in the state this year. (Also), Brandon Lang, Kyle Anderson and Logan Fannin have a very good chance of finishing high in the conference standings."

The New London girls will rock a very similar running boat. In the aftermath of the departure of sisters Gabrielle and Danielle Wuensch -- the T-G-area's top two runners of 2006 -- the Wildcats still welcome back two of the top seven local runners of one fall ago in juniors Colby Asmus and Kayla Sendelbach. The pair finished 51st and 52nd at Scioto Downs last fall, representing the team's Nos. 3 and 4 runners at state.

"There's no doubt they're the leaders this year," girls coach Ben Roberts said. "We're going to have a lot of good runners sitting on the sidelines (once districts roll around), and that's something I'm not really used to."

Also returning from performing at the state meet are senior Christina Wade (137th) and sophomores Jessica Dufner (120th) and Kiara Williams (138th).

With a 17-girl roster, depth is the resounding word Roberts echoes this fall. And with a lot of youth bringing plenty of push and enthusiasm, filling the Wuensch void might not be impossible from a No. 1 to No. 7 standpoint.

"There's a lot of inexperience, because some of our better runners are either freshmen or have never run cross country before," Roberts said. "And you can't replace the low numbers those two brought with them. ... But these girls seem pretty confident."

Roberts said additional keys will be senior Maegan Sands, freshmen Brittany Marquardt, Dani Schwinn and Rychelle White. The coach said sophomore Alice Schwinn and junior Casey Wyckoff are girls to watch as well.

NORTHWESTERN

Team approach

lining up for NHS

The build process could be taking a back seat to the skilled process in West Salem this fall.

Three years after neither team was in existence, the Northwestern Huskies and third-year coach Amanda Fishburn carry a new kind of excitement to the course with them. Both the boys and girls teams have senior letter winners ready to lead both squads to their first team scores.

For the boys, senior Mark Tegtmeier will be in search of becoming the first NHS four-year letter winner ever. Helping push the Husky pace will be letter-winning junior Kyle Schirm, and sophomore lettermen Lincoln Stover (T-G honorable mention last fall) and Connor Bowman.

Stover, Schirm and Tegtmeier all finished inside the Top 75 during their Malone District performances, while adding to the numbers are freshmen Chris Thomas, Alex Sigler and Todd Hinton.

"Because we can compete in varsity races, I believe the boys will run better this year then ever because of the competition," Fishburn said. "They have a lot of potential to do well at all of our meets."

Northwestern's girls could be a very similar story with even more options. The Lady Huskies also return four letter winners, led by senior Jana Wyatt and junior T-G second-teamer Damaris Nolletti. The two were Top 70 district runners last fall.

Junior letterman Abbie Lavy also returns to the course, as does sophomore letter winner Courtney Stover.

Even more motivating for the team could be the crucial contributions of a sophomore group that includes Karly Berry, Brittany Covert, Celia Topovski, Britany Becker and Shelly Moore, as well as the helping feet of freshman duo Allison Reed and Carissa Hohider.

"(Competing in varsity races) will be an awesome experience for the girls," Fishburn said. "The team is very dedicated to running and school, and everyone looks out for each other. We also have great leadership in the upperclassmen."